Plant Diversity ›› 2008, Vol. 30 ›› Issue (03): 249-278.DOI: 10.3724􊄯SP.J.1143.2008.08053

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Biosynthesis and Genetic Engineering of Polyketides

ZHU Xiang-Cheng1, 2, HUFFMAN Justin1, GERBER Ryan1, LOU Li-Li1, XIE Yun-Xuan1, LIN Ting1 , 3, JORGENSON Joel1, MARESCH Andrew1, VOGELER Chad1 ,
WANG Qiao-Mei4, SHEN Yue-Mao3, DU Liang-Cheng1􊳘􊳘
  

  1. 1 Department of Chemistry, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska 68588 , USA; 2 Department of Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering , Zhejiang University , Hangzhou 310027 , China ; 3 School of Life Science , Xiamen University, Xiamen 361005 , China; 4 Department of Horticulture, Zhejiang University , Hangzhou 310029 , China
  • Received:2008-03-15 Online:2008-06-25 Published:2008-06-25
  • Contact: DU Liang-Cheng

Abstract: Polyketides are one of the largest groups of natural products produced by bacteria , fungi , and plants . Many of these metabolites have highly complex chemical structures and very important biological activities, including antibiotic, anticancer, immunosuppressant , and anti- cholesterol activities . In the past two decades, extensive investigations have been carried out to understand the molecular mechanisms for polyketide biosynthesis . These efforts have led to the development of various rational approaches toward engineered biosynthesis of new polyketides .More recently, the research efforts have shifted to the elucidation of the three-dimentional structure of the complex enzyme machineries for polyketide biosynthesis and to the exploitation
of new sources for polyketide production , such as filamentous fungi and marine microorganisms . This review summarizes our general understanding of the biosynthetic mechanisms and the progress in engineered biosynthesis of polyketides .

Key words: Polyketides

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